Port of Seattle Investigates Cyberattack at Airport
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SEATTLE — An apparent cyberattack disrupted internet, phones, email and other systems at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for a third day Aug. 26 as Port of Seattle officials worked to investigate the outages and restore full service.
“We’re working around the clock to get necessary systems back online and to mitigate impacts to our passengers,” the airport’s aviation managing director, Lance Lyttle, said at a news conference Aug. 25.
Lyttle said the airport is investigating with the help of outside experts and is working closely with federal partners, including the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection. Officials have not released details about the full scope of the outage, but Lyttle said it was not affecting TSA’s ability to screen passengers.
Some airlines, including Delta and Alaska Airlines, reported no service interruptions from the outage. Both of the airlines use Sea-Tac as a hub. Still, the outage did affect the Port of Seattle’s baggage sorting system, prompting airlines to warn passengers to avoid checking bags if possible to avoid potential delays, as well as its lost and found system.
Thanks to our partners at WPPA, we’re temporarily using this website to post updates. https://t.co/aI95su1BwW — Port of Seattle - ⚓️ (@PortofSeattle) August 27, 2024
The airport also warned travelers to allow extra time at the airport and to use airline mobile applications to get boarding passes and bag tags when possible.
Still, many travelers faced security lines that were longer than normal and long waits at baggage claims and checking. Terminal screens were also out throughout the airport, making it difficult for some to determine their assigned gate. In a Facebook post, the airport said passengers should look for airport staff in green for assistance.
The flySEA app is available to travelers who downloaded it prior to the start of the outage (Aug. 24). No updates are being made, but the map is still accessible and can be used to navigate the airport. pic.twitter.com/B5T8Sezq5R — Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Airport (@flySEA) August 27, 2024
In a Facebook post, the airport said port teams were making progress but that there wasn’t an estimated time for when systems would return to normal operations.
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